Tile.



No. 746,39'. PATENTED'DEC. 8,' 190s.

. G. B. STAPLES.

TILE.

nruonron FILED snrr. 1a. 190s.

l0 MODEL.

WM @Wij 5mm we MORRIS virus co. Fumo-Umb.. WASHINGTON. n. c

\ Patented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. STAPLES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' TILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iltetters Patent No. 746,399, dated December 8, 1903.` Application iiled September 12, 1903. Serial No. 172,950. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tiles for making lioors and walls, and particularly to that class in which the tiles are provided with interlocking tongues, by which they are held together.

I do not wish to limit myself to any particular material composing the tile, as artificial stone may be used or a materialhaving more or less yielding quality.

The invention consists inthe features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing I show a' pair of tiles slightly separated, said tiles having the interlocking tongues thereon.` 1

The tiles may be of any desired shape, and in the accompanying drawing I have shown the rectangular form simply as a representative one.

The interlocking tongues are shown at 1, and these consist of projections extending from the edges of the tiles, said projections beingat the lower portion of the edge of said side of the tile and reaching 'up in its thickness only part way of said side edge, which I have marked 2. The projection has beveled edges along its sides, and at the outer end said projection has an upwardly-extending lip 3, which is also beveled upwardly with inclined sides at 4 and with an inclined outer face at 5, while the rear or inner face 6 of said projection extends more nearly vertical or at right angles to lthe upper face of the said tongue or projection. Lip Sextends only part way of the height of the said edge 2, and this lip is adapted to engage a socket 7, extending vertically from the under face of the tile and forming a continuation of the recess 8, formed on the under side of' the tile and opening through to the edge thereof, as shown at 9. The walls of the recess and of the socket 7 are arranged to conform to the sides and faces of the projection l andlip 3, so that when the tongue is in the recess the lower face of the tongue is substantially flush with the lower face of the tile. The vertical edges 6 and 6 of the lip 3 and socket 7 engaging with each other will hold the tile against separating movement. It will be seen that Athe interlocking connection between the tiles is entirely hidden, and it is arranged so that when in engagement the said edges of the tiles will fit closely together and no joint, excepting that formed by these edges, will appear between the tiles.

By my arrangement the tiles may be readily interlocked with each other, owing to the beveled construction of the projection and the walls of the socket and recess, and, further, it will be noticed that the desired results is accomplished with a projection which is comparatively short in its extent laterally from the side edge of the tile, as it is only necessary tohave the projection extend only a slight distance 4from the side edge of the tile and then to have the projection furnished with the upwardly-extending lip. This construction affords compactness at the interlocking connection, and consequently strengthens the same, a feature particularly desirable where tiles of yielding material are employed.

Of course each tile is provided both with projections and recesses,'so as to interlock with the adjoining tile.l

I claim as my invention- A-tile having a projection extending from the lower part of its side edge, said projection having beveled side edges and va lip at the outer end of the said projection, said lip extending only part way of the height of the side edge of the tile and having a beveled front face and said tile having a recess and socket to receive the projection and lip of an adjoining tile, the interlocking connection being hidden when the tiles are together and the sole visible joint between the tiles being that where their side edges meet, substantially as described. e Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. STAPLES.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. INGEAM,! JN0. F. REAEDON. 

